Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-17
GOV. oGLEsBY's DECISION.
. He Commutes the Sentence on Field
en- and Schwab
The following is the complete text Of the
Governors opinion in the Anarchist case:
II STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OFFIcE,


THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
EXECUTIVE OFFIcE,
SPRINGFIELD, ILL, Nov. 10, 1887.
On the 10th day of August, 1888, in the
Cook County Criminal Court, August Spies,
Albert r. Parsons. Samuel Fielien, Michael
Schwab. Adolph Fischer, George Engel and
Louis Lingg were found guilty by the YER
dict of the jury and afterwards sentenced to
be hanged for the murder OF Matthias J. Do
gan.
An appeal was taken from such finding and
sent to the Supreme Court of the state. That
court, upon final hearing, and after mature
deliberation, unanimously affirmed the judg-
ment of the court below. Thecase now comes
before me, by petitition Of defendants, for
consideration as Governor Of the State, II the
letters OF Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer,
George Engel, and Louis Lingg, demanding
unconditional release, or as they express 1t
''liberty or DEATH" and protesting in the
strongest language against mercy or commu-
tation of the sentence pronounced against
them, can be considered petitions
A pardon, could it be granted, which might
imply any guilt whatever upon the part Of
either of them, would not be such vindica--
ton as they demand. Executive intervention
upon the grounds insisted upon by the four
above named persons, could in no proper
sense be deemed an exercise of the constitutions
al power to grant reprieves, combinations
and pardons, unless based upon the belief, on
- ..o,A - ac+iro fnnooauoa rf tho crirna NJ
which they stand convicted.
A careful consideration of the evidence in
the record Of the trial of the parties, as well
as of alleged evidence claimed for them out
side of the record, has failed to produce upon
my mind any impression tending to impeach
the verdict of the jury or the Judgment of the
trial court or Of the Supreme Court affirming
the guilt of all the parties.
Satisfied, therefore, as I am Of their guilt, I
am precluded from considering the question
Of Communication of tho sentences of Albert
R. Parsons, Adolph Fischer, George Engel
and Louis Lngg to imprisonment in the peni-
tentiary, as they emphatically declared they
will not accept such Communication.
Samuel Fielden, Michael Schwab and
August Spies unite in petition for "Execu-
tive clemeney." Fielden and Schwab in ad-
dition present separate and supplementary
petitions for the Communication OF their
sentences.
While, as was stated above, am satisfied
of the guilt of all the parties as found by the
verdict of the jury, which was sustained by
the judgments of the courts, most careful
consideration of the whole subject leads me
to the conclusion that the sentence of the law
as to Samuel Fielden and Michael Schwat
may be modified as to each of them, in the
interest of humanity and without doing
violence to public justice.
And as to the said Samuel Fielden and
Michael Schwab the sentence is commuted to
Imprisonment in the Penitentiary for life.
As to all the other above named defendants
do not feel justified in interfering with tho
sentence Of the court.
While would gladly have come to differ.
ent conclusion in regard to thu sentence Of
defendants August Spies, Adolph Fischer
George Engel, Albert R. Parsons and Louis
Lingg, Iregret to say that under the solemn
sense Of the obligations of my Office have
been unable to do so. =.
RICHARD ]. OGLEsBY,
Governor